My Marathon Experience

I’ve never been much of a runner, but I’ve also never been one to give up on a goal I have set for myself. 

It was 2011, and I had just graduated High School. I had also just decided I would run a marathon.  I ‘ve been involved in athletics my whole life; playing baseball, football, and basketball for the majority.  Despite this, I highly doubt I had ever gone more than 4 miles in one run before.  26.2 miles seemed daunting, improbable, and challenging.  I love a challenge. 

I signed up for the September 11th 2011 Bozeman Marathon which was set up to honor those who had fallen 10 years prior. My training began 3 months in advance, and I slowly but steadily improved.   As my training progressed, my goals also progressed.  I now not only wanted to finish the marathon, I wanted to finish it in less than 3 hours.  My time per mile would have to be under 6 minutes and 52 seconds to accomplish this. 

With a month left to train, I realized I hadn’t actually been “training,” but rather just running sporadically.  I decided to do some quick research and came across multiple articles and templates that advocated for at least one long run before beginning a tapering process. The furthest I had run up until this point was 12 miles. A week later I set out early in the morning to try and go over 18 miles.

I ended up running just over 21 miles with an average mile time of 7 minutes and 2 seconds. I was pleasantly surprised at the ease of this pace, and became quite confident that with some adrenaline and race-day motivation I could shave off the time needed to achieve a sub-3-hour marathon time. I was extremely excited and optimistic. I was also wrong.

The day after my 21 mile run I became severely ill.  The long run had completely overwhelmed my immune system.  The sickness was relentless and involved multiple days of puking, a high fever, and the inability to train. My planned taper turned into complete abstinence.  I managed to run twice during that three week period, once for 3 miles and once for 4.  Each of those runs left me completely exhausted.

These last two weeks before the run were also my first two weeks of College at the University of Montana. I spent the majority of those days lying in my dorm bed.

My parents and supporters told me there was always another marathon, always another opportunity. It would have been easy to agree, it would have been easy to take their advice, and it would have been easy to try another time.  I didn’t like easy.  I decided I would run the marathon anyway.

With the majority of my training completely lost, I shifted my goal once again to just finishing the marathon. I also added a stipulation of avoiding any walking at all cost. If I was going to “run” the marathon, then I was actually going to run it.

During my 21 mile run three weeks prior to the marathon, I didn’t “hit the wall.” I felt energized and in control the entire run.

During my marathon I hit the wall at mile 5. At mile 7 I had to walk through a water station for the first time, failing my goal. At mile 12 my parents told me that I could quit at any time and try again on another date. They told me they were proud and that I had done enough. They were 100% right and had my best interest in mind. But that also pissed me off. A deep fire was lit to prove them wrong. They had pushed the right button.

I almost quit multiple times, and the voice in my head became incredibly persuasive and equally logical.  But I didn’t quit, I couldn’t quit.

Excruciating cramps began in my legs around mile 18.  I hobbled, hopped, and “ran” with what must have been the most awkward looking form.  Each step was increasingly painful, but each step also brought me closer to my goal.

At mile 23 I passed my parents again. I attempted to run normally for the 70-80 yards I was in their view. That attempt was probably pretty poor, but they never mentioned it.

I finished the marathon much more slowly than I had set out to do.  I finished the marathon in a grueling 3 hours and 43 minutes. I FINISHED the marathon!  Complete bliss.

I learned a lot about myself that day. I learned about pain.  I learned about obstacles. I learned about perseverance.  But most of all I learned that I can achieve any damn thing I set my mind to.

Comments 99,526

  19. OKAY. Now this will most likely not appear to be the same,
    then again my own everyday living experience is what it is.
    So i am a Prenatal Massage specialist. I see assorted girls just about every single
    afternoon and guide folks to experience a much less stressful, a lot more pleasant,
    and much less distressing gestation. Every distinct person presents with distinctive
    considerations. Pregnancy Massage deals
    with this key fact, nonetheless as a therapist I should certainly be more adaptive and flexible to take a look at the best
    way to most beneficially aid. In that respect there
    is no situation where a sole choice would most likely assist all people.
    Which is my own point, on the other hand my personal manner of telling you
    may possibly be uncertain. Serious pain in the lower back is not going
    to everything of which a pregnant individual is concerned with.
    In a similar fashion, absolutely no classification of people
    at any time be hampered in the same manner,
    and so to assist the entire group, LMTs have got to be really good listeners. https://Twitter.com/MassageOnSite/status/1442972773685465094

    Reply

  20. квартиры на сутки
    http://alzamai.ixbb.ru/viewtopic.php?id=189#p286
    http://ukrevent.ru/kvartiryi-na-sutki-v-minske-bez-posrednikov/
    http://avtovladelez.ru/kvartiryi-na-sutki-minsk-snyat-kvartiru-v-minske-na-sutki
    http://doctorsforum.ru/viewtopic.php?f=193&t=28498
    http://aboutalltour.ru/posutochnaya-arenda-kvartir-v-lyubom-rayone-minska/
    http://formfinance.ru/kvartiryi-na-sutki-v-minske-bez-posrednikov
    http://danceway74.ru/users/36
    http://itbulding.ru/cnyat-kvartiru-v-minske-na-sutki
    https://robotaforum.2bb.ru/viewtopic.php?id=9060#p29515
    http://bedfordfalls.live/read-blog/25683

    Reply

  26. you’re really a good webmaster. The site loading velocity is
    incredible. It sort of feels that you’re doing any distinctive trick.
    Moreover, The contents are masterpiece. you’ve done a wonderful job on this topic!

    Reply

  37. Excellent goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff previous
    to and you are just extremely wonderful. I really like what you’ve acquired here, certainly like what you are
    stating and the way in which you say it. You make it entertaining and you still take care of to keep it
    smart. I cant wait to read far more from you. This is really
    a terrific site.

    Reply

Join the Conversation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *